Poor Family Chapter 941

  Chapter 941 Important agenda

The sound of firecrackers in Chengdu Mansion has been going on for the past two days, echoing over the whole city. In fact, Chengdu Mansion has been in a state of celebration for nearly half a month. When the heads of the Ten Tigers of Zengmen were hung on the city gate, The whole city was boiling, and people celebrated with songs and dances for three days.

  The reform of the sales system of tea, wine, salt and sugar made countless businessmen happy, and they used lion dances and set off firecrackers to express their inner joy.

The privileges of Zhengdian and Great Salt Merchant were cancelled, and the sales department issued sales coupons for Yanyin, Jiuyin, Teayin, Tieyin, Tangyin, Xiangyin, etc., as long as professional merchants registered with the government could buy them. Selling coupons to pick up the goods, this is the source of release, without the profiteering of middlemen, the final price of tea, wine, salt, sugar, pig iron and spices immediately dropped by 30%, while the income of the monopoly department increased by 50%, which can be described as happy.

  But on the other hand, the management of monopoly products has become very strict. Private brewing, salt mining, and roasting of tea are strictly prohibited. Violators will be severely punished according to the number, ranging from whipping to death.

The newly established Sanlu Salt and Tea Lifting Department is located near Xicheng, next to the Sanlu Cangcao Lifting Department. These two government offices belong to the Sichuan-Shaanxi Transit Commissioner. Li Yanqing is also the transfer envoy, and Zhao Kai is the deputy envoy Li Yanqing doesn't care about the specific affairs, the power is actually in the hands of Zhao Kai.

The Transshipment Envoy of Sichuan and Shaanxi has a huge scope of power, and it is in charge of the material storage and transshipment of seven roads including Chengdufu Road, Zizhou Road, Kuizhou Road in Bashu, and Hedong Road, Shaanxi Road, Qinfeng Road, and Xihe Road in the northwest. Selling, almost the southwest and northwest of the Song Dynasty were included in this huge system.

  But its strategic intention is very clear, to continuously transport taxes, food, and material resources from Bashu to the northwest for military expansion and war preparation.

  At the beginning of December, Li Yanqing returned to Jingzhao Mansion. At this time, the north has entered the cold winter season, but for the army, it is the golden season for training and preparing for war.

The national policy of attacking Xixia has been determined. For now, it is still classified as top secret. Only the emperor Zhao Gou, the Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji, the Liuxiang of Zhizhengtang and Li Yanqing know about it. An important military and political meeting was held in the Sichuan-Shaanxi Economic Strategy Mansion.

This morning, a team from the east slowly entered the west gate of Jingzhao City. This team consisted of fifty people, almost all of whom were cavalry. They surrounded a carriage, and a man followed beside the carriage. General, he has a square face, about 30 years old, under two sword eyebrows, his eyes are particularly sharp, this person is called Xu Huiyan, and he is currently a pacifier along the Hedong Road, leading 10,000 troops to garrison in Lanzhou, Linzhou, Fu The front line of the state and the Jinning Army is mainly to defend against Xixia's intrusion on the East Road.

  The officials sitting in the carriage were none other than Taiyuan Governor Zhang Shuye. They were invited by Li Yanqing to come to Jingzhao Mansion to participate in important military and political discussions, but Zhang Jun, the Xuanfu envoy in the south of the East Road, had already arrived in Jingzhao Mansion a day ago.

   "General Xu, did you hear that many people on the street have our Taiyuan accent." Zhang Shuye looked at the street and said to Xu Hui with a little feeling.

Xu Huiyan nodded, "This is normal. Taiyuan Mansion used to have a population of one million, but now there are only 200,000 left. Only a few were slaughtered by the Jin soldiers, and most of them fled to Guanzhong. Hearing the Taiyuan accent here, he is humbled." Not surprisingly."

  Zhang Shuye sighed, "I just hope that the war will end soon, the people can return to their hometown, and Taiyuan Prefecture will be able to restore its former prosperity little by little."

   "Yes, as long as Li Jinglue can stay in the northwest, I feel that within five years, we can regain Hebei."

"hope so!"

  Xu Huiyan pondered for a while and asked again: "Excuse me, Mr. Fu, what is the purpose of our coming to Jingzhao Mansion this time?"

   "He didn't say this in the document. He just invited important officials and generals from all over the northwest. Zhang Dutong should have arrived. We are the latest to arrive. Maybe we will know today."

   While the two were talking, the team arrived at the gate of the Jinglue Mansion. The soldiers had already rushed in to report. Li Yanqing came out to greet him, cupping his fists and laughing: "I don't know that Mr. Zhang is here, so I'm too far away to welcome you!"

  Zhang Shuye chuckled, "I said why no one greeted me at the city gate. It turns out that Li Jinglue is ready to apologize!"

  The two laughed, Zhang Shuye then introduced Xu Huiyan to Li Yanqing, "This is Xu Tongzhi, the border defense envoy in the northwest of Hedong Road!"

  Xu Huiyan hastily stepped forward, knelt down on one knee and clasped his fists: "For a humble job, please refer to the envoy!"

  Li Yanqing quickly helped him up and said with a smile: "General Xu please hurry up, I was also under Mr. Zhang's command back then, and we are all colleagues."

  Zhang Shuye laughed, "Yanqing is flattering me, and later he wants to discount my military rations. I won't agree!"

  Li Yanqing pointed to Zhang Shuye and smiled at Xu Huiyan: "Look, what does it mean to be old and disrespectful, that's it."

  Xu Huiyan felt the deep friendship between Li Jinglue and Zhang Fujun, and he was also very relieved. He also laughed and said: "You gods fight, we mortals can only admire, but dare not participate."

  The three talked and laughed and walked towards the mansion. At this moment, Zhang Shuye asked in a low voice: "What is this discussion about?"

  Li Yanqing whispered two words in his ear, and Zhang Shuye's expression suddenly became serious

When Zhang Shuye and Xu Huiyan arrived, they were basically all there. Li Yanqing, envoy of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Economic Strategy, Liu Wei, the envoy of the Xihe Road Economic Strategy, Zhang Shuye, the prefect of Taiyuan and a co-prefect, and the southeast road of the East River were all in charge of Zhang Jun, Sichuan-Shaanxi Road. Zhao Kai, the deputy envoy of transshipment, Li Guang, the magistrate of Jingzhao, Wu Jie, the defense envoy of northern Shaanxi, Liu Ziyu, the defense envoy of Qinfeng North Road, Xu Huiyan, the defense envoy along the Hedong Road, and Wang Gui, Liu Qi, Liu Ziyu, Cao Cao, the deputy commanders of Jingzhao Army Sex and other important military and political officials gathered in the Jinglue Mansion.

In the heavily guarded meeting hall, Li Yanqing got up and said to everyone: "This time, everyone is invited to come here to announce a major decision. At present, this decision has been approved by the officials and the Supreme Emperor. I believe some colleagues have already guessed it. It is right. Xixia's troops."

   There was an uproar in the meeting hall. Everyone thought that they were planning to take measures against the Jin soldiers, but unexpectedly they used troops against Xixia.

  Li Yanqing raised his hands and pressed them down, and everyone fell silent again. He took out a scroll and said, "Read the oracle below!"

Everyone stood up one after another, and Li Yanqing unfolded the scroll and read slowly: "After careful consideration, I decided to adopt the suggestion of Li Jinglue from Sichuan and Shanxi Province, and seize the strategic opportunity to use troops against Xixia. Conquering Xia's military and government affairs, controlling Sichuan Third Road and Northwest Fourth Road, the above decision has been approved by me and promulgated by Zhongshumen, and it will take effect immediately, hereby!”

Li Yanqing handed over the imperial decree to everyone for circulation. On it were the seals of the Emperor Zhao Gou and the Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji, as well as the seal of Zhongshu under the door of the Zhizheng Hall. This was also what Li Yanqing was deeply worried about. The Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji had already fully intervened in the Song Dynasty. In military and political affairs, major decisions like this must be implemented with his consent.

  Everyone nodded silently. Since the highest resolution of the imperial court has been formed, it must be implemented.

   At this moment Liu Kai asked: "When are you planning to launch the Western Xia Campaign?"

"The time is preliminarily set for March next year. I will inform you in February of the specific time for the Northern Expedition. I have called you here today to discuss preparations for war. It is less than four months away from now. The time is a little rushed, but I We had made preparations before. In the Battle of Hedong Road and Shaanxi Road, we seized a total of 70,000 sets of armor, 8,000 horses, 120,000 spears, 90,000 swords, 30,000 barrels of kerosene, tents, etc. There are 14,000 tops and 130,000 military blankets. It can be said that we have gained a lot. In addition, although we withdrew our troops from the Hulushui Grand Canyon and handed over Shangyikou and Tage Village to the Xixia Army, the Huxiao Gorge on the Hengshan East Line is still there. In our hands, the Qinggangxia Military Village at the northernmost point of the Grand Canyon is still occupied by the Song army, which leaves a door for us to attack Xixia in the north."

Speaking of this, Li Yanqing glanced at the crowd, and then slowly said: "As for the military strength, there are now 30,000 troops in the direction of Taiyuan Prefecture, 150,000 people in Shaanxi Road and Qinfeng Road, 30,000 people in Xihe Road, and 20,000 people in Bashu Road." Ten thousand garrisons, including 30,000 cavalry, in terms of material money and food, I have 1.2 million shi of grain, 30 million guan of military expenditure, 3,300 thunderbolts, 80,000 sets of armor in stock, and 30,000 tents , I am going to recruit another 100,000 troops to bring the total force to 300,000, of which 130,000 will stay behind, and 200,000 will be divided into east, middle, and west to attack Xixia."

  Li Yanqing's words made all the military and government officials present excited, and Liu Wei asked again: "How is the situation in Xixia?"

Li Yanqing smiled slightly, "Know yourself and the enemy, and you can win a hundred battles. We have deployed intelligence personnel, and now we have some information. Let's put it this way! The current standing army of Xixia is less than 50,000, of which 30,000 are in Xingqing Mansion, and the remaining 20,000 Distributed in the borderlands, the catastrophe in the Kingdom of Jin last year extorted a million sheep from Xixia, which led to sharp internal conflicts in Xixia. Just last month, Li Qianshun just quelled a rebellion. It can be said that now is the weakest time since the founding of Xixia , is also a good opportunity for us to attack Xixia."

   "What about Jin Guo?"

  Zhang Shuye asked a little worriedly: "As far as I know, Jinxia has formed an alliance, will Jinxia send troops to support Xixia?"

Li Yanqing asked people to fetch a map and unfold it, and said to everyone: "Before the Kingdom of Jin attacked the Song Dynasty, the Kingdom of Jin only occupied the area of ​​Linhuang Mansion in the southeast of the Mobei Grassland, that is, Shangjing, and the north and west And the richest central part was not conquered, so after the Song and Jin Dynasties concluded the armistice agreement, 300,000 Jin soldiers began to conquer the Mobei grassland. Their opponents were the Meiliju tribe in the north, the Naiman tribe in the west, and the nine tribes of Dadan in the middle. So far, they have only conquered the nine tribes of Dadan, set up the Northwest Road Recruitment Department in the Wangcheng of the Dadan tribe, and established Weizhou, Zhenzhou, and Zhaozhou. Now the army is still there, and will continue to march westward after the spring The most powerful Naiman tribe, at this time, the Kingdom of Jin can't take Xixia into account. If you want to beware, it is the 20,000 Jin soldiers stationed in Datong Mansion. If the Jin soldiers attack the East Road, it means tearing up the Song Army's truce Agreement, the Song army can attack the Central Plains with a large army, and Jin soldiers will not do such a stupid thing, but the 20,000 Jin soldiers from Datong Mansion may enter Xixia to fight with us."

  Liu Wei sighed slightly: "Xixia is actually hard to deal with with their 30,000 iron kite cavalry. If they find a way to defeat the enemy, then Xixia will be nothing to worry about."

"There are 30,000 iron kite cavalry in name, but in fact there are only 3,000 elites wearing cold-forged armor, and the rest are ordinary iron armor. After the invention of the arm crossbow, it is completely feasible to deal with ordinary iron armor, but it is not enough to deal with cold-forged armor, but the god-armed crossbow is not enough, but Jing Zhaojun has just invented a new type of firearm, which may be able to deal with cold-forged armor."

  Speaking of this, Li Yanqing smiled mysteriously, "I will take everyone to witness it with my own eyes this afternoon!"

  Everyone was refreshed, their eyes full of anticipation.

  (end of this chapter)

Chapter end